The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) has welcomed the tax relief measures announced in Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s 2026 national budget.
The party expressed support for the R13.7 billion in personal income tax relief, as well as the increase in the VAT registration threshold for small businesses to R2.3 million.
Party spokesperson Wouter Wessels described the announcements as “rays of hope” for ordinary South Africans facing financial pressure.
However, the VF Plus cautioned that the budget does not address the deeper structural issues hindering long-term economic growth. According to the party, key obstacles include Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Affirmative Action policies, the collapse of municipalities due to cadre deployment, a public sector wage bill that consumes 35% of government revenue, and continued bailouts for struggling state-owned enterprises.
“Without major cutbacks in wasteful expenditure, a shift to merit-based appointments, and greater market freedom, genuine economic growth will simply not materialise,” Wessels warned.
The party also noted that the projected GDP growth rate of just 1.6% remains well below the 3% required for a meaningful economic recovery. This suggests that while taxpayers may receive some temporary relief, the country’s long-term economic challenges are far from resolved.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
